Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Nb4Pd0.5ZSb2 (Z = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Si): the first ordered quaternary variants of the W5Si3-type structure
M Wang1, W C Sheets, R McDonald
1Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada.
Abstract:
A family of quaternary (or pseudoquaternary) antimonides Nb4Pd0.5ZSb2 (Z = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Si) containing up to three transition metals in an ordered arrangement has been prepared by reactions of the elements. These antimonides are isostructural, crystallizing as substitutional variants of the W5Si3-type structure (tetragonal, space group -I4/mcm, Z = 4) with unit cell parameters a = 10.4407(3) A and c = 5.0020(2) A for Nb4Pd0.5Cr0.28(3)Si0.72Sb2, a = 10.4825(6) A and c = 4.9543(3) A for Nb4Pd0.5FeSb2, a = 10.4603(5) A and c = 4.9457(3) A for Nb4Pd0.5CoSb2, a = 10.4332(7) A and c = 4.9649(3) A for Nb4Pd0.5Ni0.78(1)Sb2, and a = 10.3895(10) A and c = 4.9634(4) A for Nb4Pd0.5SiSb2. They are distinguished by the filling of interstitial Z atoms into the centers of Nb8 square antiprismatic clusters that are linked by PdSb4 tetrahedra. The Nb8 square antiprisms share opposite square faces to form one-dimensional chains along the c axis so that Z-Z bonding distances of approximately 2.5 A result. Extended Hückel band structure calculations were carried out to interpret the homo- and heteroatomic metal-metal interactions in the structure. The resistivity of one member, Nb4Pd0.5SiSb2, was measured, indicating metallic behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability. Many...
Coordination Number and Geometry
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...

